The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) hosted a grand closing ceremony of a project titled” Creating High-End Fashion Product Using Local Heritage Material” which began two years ago with an aim to develop high-end western apparel items by utilising centuries-old local heritage materials of the country.
The BGMEA implemented this programme with the support of the Ministry of Commerce and the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Faruque Hassan, BGMEA president, Dr. Mohammad Ileas Mia, deputy secretary of WTO Cell at the Ministry of Commerce; Dr. Engr. Ayub Nabi Khan, pro-vice chancellor of BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT) and Neela Hosna Ara, director of BGMEA, among others, were present during the closing event.
President Faruque Hassan said, “The heritage textile materials we have in our country are priceless. Having centuries-old pride, the BGMEA being the promoter of the apparel industry in Bangladesh, felt the urge to double down on heritage resurrection – through our indigenous textile materials and unique craftsmanship. We aspire to redefine luxury fashion by blending invaluable heritage.”
“If we can develop high-value fashionable garments using our locally produced heritage fabrics and link them to the export market, it will create opportunities for our sector with respect to diversification,” he said.
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Dr. Mohammad Ileas Mia, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Commerce said that under the WTO-supported programme they worked with food processing industry, agriculture, leather and other sectors.
He said that it was initially challenging to implement something like this project in the RMG sector, as the idea was very new and innovative.
“But, to our utter surprise, at the end of the project, RMG has been the best one fulfilling all the components,” he said.
A total of 160 participants from the industry, especially the fashion designers and innovators and local weavers, received training under this project.
During the training, they prepared some mood boards which represent how heritage and culture can be used to design blended luxury items.
Also, nine teams comprising 20 people from fashion designing backgrounds developed some prototypes of the fusion product for example, bridal wear, evening gown, and party dress using local Jamdani, Muslin and silk- all from Bangladesh.
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Faruque Hassan informed that the BGMEA has undertaken two other separate projects to promote Khadi, Muslin and local heritage motifs such as waterlily, Royal Bengal Tiger, rickshaw paints and others.
He invited the local designers to collaborate on these projects, in terms of design development and product sourcing.
The BGMEA president launched a new heritage website during the event. The website will present an in-depth feature on the local heritage products, unique design, craftsmanship, weaving techniques, information about weavers and their personal stories.
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